The Boarding School

Volunteer

Hugh Hoheisel

Hugh stalked into the troops headquarters. Sarah saw her out of the corner of her eye and ran down the hall to catch him down the way. "What's up?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"You looked ticked off," she observed.

"I am ticked off," he replied, "I'm an assassin, a mercenary. Someone calls me up, gives me a target, I give them a price. We agree, I grab my rifle, put a bullet in their brain, take my money and walk on to my next job. This is unbearable."

"What exactly is unbearable?" Sarah asked.

"This whole working hours for a salary is not my thing. Consistently having to work the same hours, running down punks who get let out only to do the same thing again and again. We should just shoot them all. We wouldn't have this problem."

"We?"

"They - they - should just shoot them all." Hugh shook his head, "And they think we're problems."

"Have you talked to Luke yet?" Sarah smiled ruefully.

"No, I just got here. Where is he?" Hugh stopped and looked around as if expecting his brother to appear.

"With Zoe."

"Zoe?" He asked with disbelief.

"They seem to be getting along." Sarah smirked, enjoying Hugh's face contort with disgust. Luke arrived that moment.

"Damn, Luke, I know you're mad at me for moving in with Ally, but fraternizing with my enemies for leaving you for a few months is a bit harsh," Hugh ripped in right away.

Luke guffawed, "Sure, I'm fraternizing with the enemy. You're sleeping with them, literally."

"I don't deny it and that's the only good deal out of this," Hugh replied with a short laugh.

"Domestic life being fair?" Luke asked, joining the pair.

"No. I hate it." Hugh shook his head.

"Is the attack dog nagging you?"

"Actually, no. She's easier to live with than you," came Hughs's reply.

"Only because you get sex," Luke retorted.

"He makes a fair point," Sarah remarked.

"Whose side are you on?" Hugh demanded. The other two laughed.

"Poor Hugh," Luke said, slapping him on the back, "Like I always said, girls are trouble."

"I'm pretty sure I said that," Sarah replied.

"Alright, you had your fun," Hugh interrupted, "I didn't come here to get teased. Where's Heinen. I have some intel."

"What's that?" Knowles asked, coming into the hall from the gymnasium.

"Speak of the devil," Hugh remarked.

"You have me confused with Heinen, Hugh," Knowles responded without missing a beat, "and quite frankly, I take offense at the perceived resemblance." He readjusted his AK strap as he approached.

"Why? You're about the same age, aren't you?" Hugh laughed smugly, eyeing Luke. Luke's mouth twitched towards a smile, even Sarah chuckled.

Knowles raised his eyes at his daughter, stopping to form a square with the three others. "Learning sass from Ms. Ponde, are we, Hugh?" Hugh stopped laughing. "Heinen is in the yard, but he'll be back soon. We'll meet him in his office now if it's important." Hugh nodded and followed Knowles.